Leaving no one behind: A glimpse into the state of adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals in the Danish construction industry

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) presented in the 2030 Agenda by the United Nations in 2015 provide an ambitious, global framework for sustainable development. The construction industry holds great potential for contributing to achieving the goals towards 2030. This study investigates the current state of implementation of the SDGs within the Danish construction industry, both on a strategic and project specific level. It provides insights into the barriers for implementation. A survey was distributed to actors within the construction industry and responded by 54 people, involving architects, engineers, building owners, contractors, suppliers and manufacturers, along with academic experts. The results indicate that 90% agree that the SDGs can add value to construction project, and 79% had implemented the SDGs on a strategic level. 45% had worked with the SDGs on a project level, where the goals 7 (clean and affordable energy), 12 (responsible consumption) and 13 (climate action) were most often applied. The main barriers to implementing the SDGs were a lack of measurability, time, and resources. The prioritization of goals was discussed in the light of previous research. This study provides valuable insights into the current state of implementation of the SDGs in the Danish construction industry and points towards the following directions for future research: 1) further development of tools and methods to support the actors within the construction industry, especially focusing on measurability and prioritization, 2) in-depth investigation of the state of implementation of the SDGs for the different actors within the construction industry, and, lastly, 3) further studies on the challenges and barriers for implementing the goals within the construction industry.